Finance Minister's Press Conference 15 May 2020:
I will announce 11 measures today - eight related to strengthening activities and three will concern governance.74,300 crore of purchases based on MSP was done during the lockdown. Under PM KISAN yojana, 18,600 crores were transferred to farmers' accounts directly. Fasal Beema Yojana claims worth Rs 6400 crore were also settled. Also, for animal husbandry, 560 lakh litres of milk were procured per day as compared to 360 lakh litres procured usually. This was done by dairy cooperatives.Nearly 2 crore farmers benefited in the last 2 months.
The eight measures are as follows:
1. Rs 1
lakh crore fund to be provided for strengthening farmgate infrastructure - cold
storage facilities, foodgrain storage centres, etc. This will benefit primary
agriculture societies, aggregators, start-ups etc. The agricultural startups
will also benefit. This will also help in export. This fund will address this
issue. It will be created at the earliest.
2. For
food enterprises which are micro in size: 10,000 crores scheme to be executed
in cluster-based approach. Health and wellness, nutritional, herbal, organic
products. 2 lakh Micro Food Enterprise will benefit. Aim at branding marketing
of the clusters. This will help in achieving PM's call for "Vocal for
Local". This fund will aim at promoting these products globally, with
focus on women business owners and workers.
3. Pradhan
Mantri matsya-sampada yojana - 20,000 crore new fishing vessels can be
provided, fishing harbours can be built. Fishermen don't go to sea yea rlong.
Boats can be insured. This will result in additional 70 lakh tonnes of fish. Of
the 20,000 crore, 9,000 crore will be for the vessels, mandi, harbours and
marketing. This will provide employment to 55 lakh people.
4. Foot
and mouth disease common among animals. Animals who have not been vaccinated,
suffer from this. So farmers suffer in turn. To ensure 100% vaccination of
cattle - 53 crore animals, Rs 13,343 crore will be provisioned. Since January,
1.5 crore buffaloes and cows have been tagged for vaccination. Post lockdown,
this will be carried on.
5. Rs
15,000 crore for dairy sector - Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development
Fund. Will aim to support private investment in dairy sector.
6. Rs
4,000 crores for herbal cultivation. 10 lakh hectares will be covered under
herbal cultivation. A corridor will be setup on both banks of the River Ganga.
7. Rs 500
crores for beekeeping initiatives. Will improve beekeeping, which is crucial
for cross-pollination and also increase produce of honey. This too will be
aimed for the 'local to global' initiative.
8. Rs 500
crores for a programme called 'TOP to TOTAL' - This will help better supply
chains, which have been disrupted during the lockdown. This used to be done for
tomato, onion and potato, but now will include all other vegetables and will be
started first on a pilot basis. There will be 50% on transportation of produce
and 50% subsidy on storage, including cold storage.
The three administrative measures are as
follows:
1. Amendment
to Essential Commodities Act to enable better price realisation for farmers.
The amendment will be largely towards de-regulating certain crops, like
potatoes, cereals, onions, etc. No stock limit shall apply for food processing
units, value-addition corporations, exporters, etc. This will not hamper food
processing and exports when Essential Commodities Act is applicable.
2. Farmers
to have a choice to sell their produce at an attractive price. Agriculture
Marketing Reforms to provide marketing choices for farmers. Farmers are
currently bound to sell only to some licenses. This does not happen in any
other manufacturing sector. We want to make the marketplace more accessible to
farmers. We will now allow farmers to sell to anyone who offers a better price
for their produce. This will help them earn better.
3. Agricultural
Produce Price Support Program - Farmers do not have a standard mechanism which
tells him/her what price they will get for their crop. Even when they sow the
crop they do this with uncertainty of what they will reap monetarily when a
buyer comes. We will now work on a legal framework and a mechanism which will
ensure they know exactly what they will earn for the quantity they produce.
Official PDF -
15 May 2020
Official PDF - 14 May 2020
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